Egg candling machine



Jain. 9, 1940. R. RHAUGH 2,185,196

` EGG CANDLING MACHINE y Original Filed Aug. 3l. i934 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 may su Wwfw@ EGG CANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 31, 1934 y14 Sheets-Sheet 4 /92 vengo r Jam 9. 1940. z R. R. HAUGH 2,186,196

l v EGG CANDLING MACHINE y Original Filed Aug. 51, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan.v 9, 1940.- R. n HAuGl-l .Y

K EGG CANDLING MACHINE origina Filed Agg. 31. 1934.

14 Sheets-@Sheet Jan. 9, 1940. R. R. HAUGH j 2,186,196

Y l .'EGGGANDLINGMASHINE u l original Filed Aug.' s1, 19:54 14 sheets-sheet 9 116 BG@ GANDLING IACHINB original Fired Aug. .31', 19:54 sheets-sheet 1'2 Raymond ya@ ,Wwf-QM@ Jan. 9, 1940. R. R. HAUGH 2,186,196

' `EGG* CANDLING MACHINE y Original Filed Aug. 31, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 Jan. 9, 1940. R R, HAUGH 2,186,196

EGG CANDLING MACHINE Original Filed Allg. 31, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 //o u A c.

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Patented Jan. 59, 1940 NED STATES PATENT crie mesne assignments, to Kraft-Phenix Cheese Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation '.of

Delaware Original application August 31, 1934, Serial No.

742,223. 1936, Serial No. 75,982

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in egg candling machinery, that is to say, to improvements in machines for inspectingy and grading eggs according to their quality, based on certain characteristics which I have found are determinative of the quality and grade o f eggs, and this application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 742,223 led August 31, 1934.

It is generally understood that a fresh, highgrade egg is possessed of a White or albuminous part which is fairly thick. With increased age, the white of the egg becomes thinner and the yolk tends to rise to the topof the egg. This circumstance is utilized to advantage in the mechanism about to be explained. Grading of eggs also takes into consideration the size of the air cell which is always formed at one end of the egg, cleanliness of the egg, checks or cracks, especially those which are normally invisible to the naked eye, and miscellaneous spots,- such as blood spots, which are sometimes formed in the egg.

The size of the eggs is also an important consideration. The highest grade eggs are not only clean and fresh and free from checks or blood l spots, but they are also eggs of a minimum size.

eggs for so-calleddirtiea'checks, blood spots, air

For practical purposes, eggs may be graded according .to three sizes, for example, small, which may be 41.5 mms. or less and Weigh approximately 22 oz. per dozen; medium, between 41.5 mms..and 42.5 m'ms. and averaging 24 oz. per dozen, and large, which measure 42.5 mms. and over and weigh an average of oz. and over per dozen.

The conventional method of inspecting eggs prior to this invention has been by placing each egg in front of a suitable light and then visually checking the egg to determine the condition of 'the white and other elements supposed to be determinative of its quality, such inspection being essentially a visual inspection. Some candlers also endeavor to base ,their judgment on the mobility ofthe yolk, as ascertained by watching the movement of the yolk after spinning and stopping the rotation of the egg. 'I'his form of inspection is of course wholly dependent upon the judgment of the egg candler, and actual tests have indicated that the same batch of eggs is practically never graded the same by different candlers.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide mechanism which will facilitate the making of a preliminary or visual inspection ofv Divided and this application Aprll 23,

cell size, and other characteristics which are normally determined in the conventional visual candllng of eggs; to provide mechanism for automatically determining the quality of an egg according to condition, i. e., the density of its white and the resultant location of its yolk; to provide means for automatically separating the inspected eggs according to the' grade as determined by the condition of the whites and location of the yolks; and to provide mechanism for automatically separating rst grade eggs according to their size.

Other objects of the invention are to provide egg inspecting and grading mechanism which will make possible the inspection and grading of a much larger volume of eggs, person for person, in a given time than has been possible by existing methods of inspection; and to provide inspecting means as above indicated which will eliminate substantially all the errors in judgment which are prevalent in methods of inspection heretofore extant.

Still further objects are to provide mechanism of the character indicated which may be economically produced, operated and maintained, especially when due consideration is given to the volume of Work handled by the mechanism, and to produce a machine of the character indicated which may be operated by persons relatively unskilled in the egg candling art.

Other objects -and advantages of the present invention will be understood by reference to the' following specication and accompanying drawings (14 sheets) wherein there is illustrated an egg candling machine embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. l is a plan;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the left-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figs. l. and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan corresponding to a portion of `Fig. 1, certain cover elements being removed to expose and more clearly illustrate the working parts;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Figs. 1 and 2; A f

Fig. 6 'is a section on'the line 6 6 of Figs. 2 and 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on and 2;

Fig. 8 is a section on theline 8 8 of Fig. '7;

Fig 9 is a fragmentary plan corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1, certain cover elements being the line 'l--vl of Figs.l l

removed to expose and more clearly illustrate some of the Working parts;

Fig. 10 is a section showing a detail of construction of a part appearing in Figt 9;

Fig. 11 is a side View corresponding in part toa portion of Fig. 2 but on an enlarged scale C'and including other mechanism in section. The location of this view is indicated approximately by the lines II-I of Figs-3 and 12; g Fig. l2 is a section on the line |2-I2 of Fig. ig. 13 is a section on the line |3-I3 of Fig.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line I4-'I4, of Figs. ll and 15;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line Figs. 12 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a section approximately on the line l6-l6 of Fig. 1 and on the line I6-I6 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 17 is a detail plan of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 16;

Figs. 18 and 19 are illustrations corresponding to Figs. 16 and 17 respectively, but showing a modified form of mechanism which also serves the functions of the mechanism shown-in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 20 is an electric circuit diagram;

Fig. 21 is an electric circuit diagram which illustrates more fully certain connections indicated in Fig. 20; and Y Fig. 22 is an electric circuit diagram relating to the operation of conveyors for receiving eggs Aas delivered by the mechanism according to grade and size. I

- General operation Referring now to the drawings, andl especially -to Fig. l, there is indicated at 25 a rack which transversely of its length andserves to convey eggs placed therein to seats provided in a pair of rolls 26 and 21.v 'I'he rolls 26 and 21 are suitably rotatedin the same direction and serve as to project a beam of light through the rotating egg. Eggs under rotation on the rolls 26-and 21 and in the path of the" said beam of light, are subjected to a preliminary visual inspection at this stage. The visual inspection here possible is designed to'enable the. machine operator to pick out eggs which are ordinarilyclassied las dirties, checks, blood spots, and such other defects A as are made readily noticeable by the light beam. At this stage, eggs having extremely thin whites Amay also be easily detected and removed, by

reason of a very noticeable change in the position of the yolk and the extreme transparency of the white, but this element of inspection is not important and the possibility of making it at this stage is not relied upon forthe grading of such eggs. The size of air pockets in eggs may also easily be. determined in this visual inspection and eggs which have air pockets of too large sizemay be manually removed.

The rack 25 is also .operative to feed the row of eggs from the rollers 26 and 21 to a conveyor 'carried forward in the direction of the rows of eggs by continuous movement. 'I'he transverse reciprocating movement ofthe rack 25 is syn-.,

chronized with the travel oi the conveyor 29 .The rack 25 is reciprocated v and egg holders 28 so that when the rack is moved transversely, it is operative to feed eggs from the rolls 26 and 21 to the egg holders 29. It is thus unnecessary to interrupt the travel of the conveyor 29 so that the speed of operation of the machine may be maintained at a minimum, depending largely upon th ability of an operator to supply eggs tothe rack 25.

The conveyor 25 carries the eggs through inspecting mechanism indicated in its entirety by illustrated six receiving-conveyors each designated 3|. These conveyors are independently actuated and each moves forward one step for each egg delivered thereto. The conveyorsl 3l are in this instance designed to receive eggs classified or graded as under grade, third grade, second grade'f.l and large, medium and small first gradeeggs, as labeled inl Figs. l and 2.

The frame work of the mechanism may be extended as indicated at 32 at the delivery end of vthe conveyors 3l, to provide a support for egg boxes or' for crates for receiving the most prevalent grade of eggs. Other crates for the grades not expected to be found in large numbers in the particular egg lot under inspection may be located at other convenient points. An operator is of course stationed at the machine to load eggs moving the eggs from the conveyors 3| and depositing them in boxes or crates, as may be required. Of course, other suitable stands or racks may be provided, either as a part of or independent of the apparatus for holding crates or boxes from which and into which the eggs maybe taken or packed.

Receiving mechanism and preliminary inspection The egg conveying chain 29 extends around sprockets designated 33 which are-suitably rotatably; mounted on frame work which is indigcated by the reference'numeral 34. 'I'he frame work may of course'be of any suitable construction-and may consist of various supporting legs Y or brackets such as are required for thepurposes of the mechanism. 'Ihe chain 29 is driven in thisv instance by means of ,an electric motor 35 having a suitable driving connection with one of the sprockets I3 which carry the chain 29. In

this instance, the driving connection includes' a worm and worm wheel speed-reducing unit indicated at 36 and a chain drive connection '91- between the drive end ofthe speed-reducing unit and the shaft of the sprocket 33.

Ihe chain 29 carries a series of regularly spaced egg holders 99, the detail construction of which is clearly shown in Figs.'4 and 5. As shown in said iigures, the egg holders each comprise longitudinally extending but transversely spaced leg portions 99* andllb. The portion 99 issomewhat wider than the other leg and includes an upwardly offset portion. which is'- provided at its forward end with a lip or extension 99 which isconnected to the chain 29. The conand extend upwardly from a rock shaft 5I;

nection to the chain 29 1n The rack 25 consists of longitudinally extending front and back bars 42 and 43 respectively,

these bars being connected by ylongitudinallybrackets 45, 45 to transversely extending rods' 46, 46 which are guided intermediate their lengths between pairs of rollers 41 carried by vertically movably mounted posts 48. The rear ends of the rods 46 are pivotally connected by means of adjustably connecting devices 49 to the upper ends of arms 50 which are rigidly mounted on The rock shaft 5I is journaled in suitable bearings carried by conveniently located frame parts-34. Intermediate its ends, the rock shaft 5l is provided with a depending arm 52 rigidly connected to the rock shaft and the free end of said arm is connected by means of a link 53 to the free end of the depending arm 54' of' a bell crank leverA which is rockably mounted on another rock shaft.

55. The said bell crank also includes an upwardly extending arm 56 which is equipped with an antifriction roller 51 at its free end for engagement with the periphery of a rotary cam 58. The cam 58 is carried by a cam shaft 59 which is driven in predetermined synchronized relation to the feed movement of the conveyor chain 29 through the agency of a bevel gear connection indicated at 68, With one of the sprockets 33 of the conveyor chain 29. The rock shaft is journaled in suitable bearings 'carried by conveniently located frame parts 34 and it isalso provided with a bell crank comprising an upstanding arm 6l and a laterally extending arm. 62. The upstanding arm 6I is provided Withan anti-friction roller 63 which engages the periphery of a rotary cam 64 which is carried by said cam shaft 59. The laterally extending'bell crank arm 62 has pivotally connected to it a rod 65 which depends through an aperture in a guide plate 66 which is fixedly mounted on the frame part 34. Adjacent its lower end, the rod 65 is equipped with a collar 61 and a coil spring 68 is interposed between the guide member 66 and the collar 61 to cushion the operation of certain of the parts, as will hereinafter be explained.

The vertically adjustably mounted posts 48 are slidable in supporting. brackets 86, 69 and they are provided with cross pins 18 which engage the upper edges of thelifting arms 1l which are mounted on the rock s haft 55.

It will be seen that as an incident to the rotationiof the cam 58, the arms 58 and hence the rods 46 and the rack 25 will be reciprocated transversely. `Inward movement of the rack is against the tension of springs 12 which are stretched between the arms 50 adjacent their upper ends and anchoring pins carried by the` frame work of the machine. The springs 12 yof course serve to return the egg rack 25 to its outermost position, as shown in -full lines in Fig. 5, when permitted to do so' by the cam 58. Also, rotation of the vcani 64 acting through the-bell crank arm 6| imparts rocking movement to the rock shaft 55, which in turn causes a .rocking of the lifting arms 1| to eect vertical inlovebe through-the agencylof ears such as indio ed at 29a formed. integrally with certain links of the chain. Thev egg holders 3 8 ride on supporting elements indicated at 40 (Fig. 5) between which elements thereis provided a slot designated 4|.

ment of the supporting posts 48. It will be apparent that the egg rack 25 will thus'be caused to swing upwardly. The relationship of the cams 58 and 64 is such 'that the rack 25 is rst moved inwardly in an approximately horizontal plane to substantially the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5. Thereupon, the cam 64 causes upward swinging movement of the rack 25 so that the bar 43 will be elevated above the tops of a. row of eggs indicated at E, which were fed to the rollers 26 and 21 -by the -rackl25 as an inciclent to its inward movement. The cam- 58 then permits thesprings 52 to return the rack 25 to its outermost position, the cam 54 also permitting lowering of the rack to its initial position in such a manner that the rack will not on its on the rollers 26 and 21.

The rolls 26 and-21 are intermittently rotated in the same direction and are driven by means of a connection to a shaft 13 which is continuously 'driven by means of chain connections 14 and .15 with the power shaft 16 of a speed reducing unit 11 which is suitably connected to an electric motor 18.

indicated in 'the drawing, -are provided for receiving the chains 14 and 15 and for transmitting rotation to the respective shafts on which the sprockets are mounted, at-pr'edetermined spee'ds of rotation. The shaft 13 is connected to the, rollers 26 and 21 through the agency of a clutch device 19 which is adapted to be adjusted from the said clutch be automatically engaged and disengaged in synchronized relation with the' transverse `movement of the egg rack 25. To automatically control the clutch 1-9, the clutch operating lever 8D is extended rearwardly beyondI its'pivot 84 and is connected by means of a linkl 85 rto the free end of an arm 86 which has its other end pivoted, as indicated at 81, to a suitable bracket carried by a frame part. Intermediate its length, the arm 86 is provided with a roller 88 Which'is operative to engage the cam face 89 Aof a cam disk 98 which is secured to the cam shaft 59 (see'Figs. 4 'and ,6)- A spring 9i extending between a portion of the clutch operating lever 8U and a portion of the frame 34 normally tends to disengage the clutch 19, and the cam 89 ,is operative to effect and maintain engagement .of the clutch for the desired length of time and in properly synchronized relation with the movements ofthe egg-rack 25. l

Underlying 'the egg rack 25 when 'in its.l outermost position, there is provided a support 92 provided on its upper surface with a cushion strip`93 preferably in the form of a strip of rubber. 'I'he said cushion strip is designed to support eggs placed within thepockets formed in the rack 25.

By reference 'to Fig. 4, it will be seen that eachfof the pockets formed between thecross bars 44 'of the rack 25 are transverselyv aligned with recessedor grooved portions designatedl28 The motor 18, as. shown in Fig. 3, .is mounted'on a frame portion' 34 and it will of -ccurse be understood that suitable sprockets; as

outward movement engage the eggs deposited and 21* respectively of the rollers 26 and 21. In the enlarged spaces 94 thus formed between the rollers 26 and- 21 are located devices 95 for projecting a'beam of light into the eggs whichare fed to the rollers 26 and 21 by the rack 25. By reference to Figs. iand 4, it will be understood that eggs when supported on the rollers 26 and 21 are substantially centrally located -with respect to the spaces 94, so that a-beam of light issuing from the devices 95 will illuminate the eggs and thereby permit visual inspection thereof while the eggs are disposed on the rollers. The light devices 95 are shown in detail in Fig.

.5 and consist of electric lamps 96 of suitable strength supported by sockets 91 suitably mounted under the support 92, which in this instance is illustrated as 'being formed of a length of angle iron. A housing for the lamp bulb 96 is -indicated at 98 and is provided with an elongated or oval-shaped nozzle-like tube element 99 of light where it is not desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the operator places eggs in the .pockets o f the rack 25 and on the support 93.

From that position, the rack 25 is moved inwardly and rolls the eggs therein to a position on the 'rollers26 and 21 overlying the lighting devices 95. The rollers 26 and 21 are then rotated sumciently to cause the eggs thereof to revolve two or three times, during which time the operator makes a preliminary visual inspection of the eggs similar to the inspection .made by egg eandlers in the conventional method of candling eggs.v

While the egg is being rotated for the purpose ofthe preliminary visual inspection, the rack 25 is being elevated and returned to its iniy tial position. Another batch of eggs is positioned in the rack and upon the next inward movement s of the rack, the bar 43 thereof engages the, rowv time are stationary), and causes the said row of eggs to roll inwardly andy to roll into egg holders 38 which are in movement with the chain' 29. The transverse movement of the rack I2 is accurately ti'r'ned to cause the eggs E rolling from the rollers 26 and 21 to roll into the said egg holders 38 just in front ofupstanding back elements 38. The brightness of the lamps 96 may b controlled by means of a suitable rheostat or otherwise, so as to permit the lightsto be adjusted to the particular liking of the opery ator or to suit theparticular batch of eggs under inspection. Such a rheostat may belocated in any convenient vposition and is therefore not shown. The e888 which appear, as a result of the visual inspection made by the operator, to be below certain standards, may of course be removed from the conveyor byhand.

Phew-electric grading means The eggs carried forward by the conveyor chain I 29 and holders 30 are carried between a photoelectric cell I0|' andan exciter lam'p |02 con- 'talned in a housing-|09. In some instances, the

eggs may be positioned on the egg holders 36 slightly in advance oi' the upstanding rackelements 30 thereof. -For causing the Aeggs ..mt against said upstanding back elements and thereby to assure accurate positioning of the eggs in the holders and maintaining predetermined timed relation between the operation of the photo-elec- 2,1se,19e

ltric inspecting' means and other elements of 'the .mechanism, there is provided a yielding or spring element |04 which is suitably mounted and-projects upwardly in the slot. 4| and between the egg holderportions 38a and 36". When an egg engages the `said spring finger |04, its forward movement is arrested until such time as it engages the4 rack elements 38c of the egg holders to be thereby positively propelled. Of cours'e the spring''nger |04 is ofv suiliciently light tension to permit the egg and egg holder to ride thereover without ,any upward movement being im parted to the egg or egg holder.

'As best seen in Figs. 7 and 8, there is-provided between the photo-electric cell |0| and exciter lamp, -a shutter arrangement controlled by the eggs for. restricting the passage of light from the exciter lamp to the photo-electric cell except through anegg carried by one of the egg holdersv38l The shutter arrangement comprises a pair of -the shutter members |05 and |06 are provided with enlargements |05*l and |06respectively,

which have adjacent edges'dsigned to engage eachother when the shutters are in closed position, to thereby prevent the passage of light from the exciter lamp |02 to the photo-electric cell. .A spring [l0 stretched between the shutter arms serves to yieldingly urge the same to closed position. Flared guide elements |05b'and |06b` depend from the -shutter members |05 and I 06 respectively and are adapted to be engaged by. an egg in its passage therebetween. As clearly shown in Figs. '7 and 8, an eggpassing between the guide elements |05b and |96b causes a spreading o r opening yof the shutter 'members |05*l and |06, so that light emanating from the exciter lamp |02 and passing through the eggE and through the opening designated between the shutters, may act upon the photo-electric cell to cause the passage of an electric current.

As previously indicated, the detail operation of the photo-electriccell inspecting mechanism is fully disclosed in my said copending applications and hence need not be herein described in detail. However, it may be pointed out that between the exciter lamp and the egg holders 30 there isprovided av shield I |2 which is removably held in position by means of a suitably anged bracket ,I I3 secured to the bottom side of vthe plate part to be burned to the surface ofthe lamp and re-f- 7 sion of the shield H2, it becomes a'simple matter to remove the shield for cleaning or replacement.

Electric circuits controlled by the photo-elec- -moved only with great diinculty.` By the provitric cell willpresently be described.l For present purposes, it is sumcient to explain that currents passed by the photo-electric cell |0| are amplitied by an amplifying unit designated ||l preferably located within 'the housing |ll-and that the amplined current is distributed bymeans of an electrically actuated motor. switch or'dlstributor designated ||6 to condensers contained is provided for imparting rocking movementk in a receptacle ..i|1. I'he details of construction of the amplier, the motor switch or distributor and the condensers are not a part of the present invention, but these parts are conventional units vavailable on the market. Hence they need not be described in detail. To facilitate the determination of the strength of current passed by the photo-electric cell, a milliamperemeter d'esg'- nated l i8 is mounted on the front of the housing Grade separating mechanism As previously indicated, the eggs are graded in accordance with their inuence on the in tensity of light which passes through the eggs and acts -on the photo-electric cell |0| The present arrangement is such that those eggs which permit the passage of the greatest amount of light are graded as first grade and other eggs which pass successively diminished intensities of light are graded as second, third and "under grade eggs. graded, according to size,l into three groups, small, medium and large. The grading according to size is independent of the photoelectric cell arrangement.

From the egg holders 38 on the conveying chain 29, the eggs are discharged or kicked off by means of vkicker arms such as indicated at 52| Which are automatically rocked, as will 'presently be explained. The eggs discharged by the conveyor are guided by guides or chutes |22 which are lprovided at their upper ends with funnel-like enlargements |23 projecting in the direction from which the eggs approachthe guides. The guides |22 serve to conduct the eggs downwardly and to deposit them inA soft and resilient rubber cups |24 provided on the receiving conveyors 3|. The receiving conveyors 3| are advanced step-by-step, one step for each egg deposited therein. It will be understood that the conveyors 3| are independently actuated' each which is suitably journaled in brackets carried.

by the frame work of the machine and continuously rotated by means of a driving connection with the shaft of one of the sprockets 33 by which the conveyor chain 29 is propelled. The gear connection referred to, with the sprocket 33, appears in the upper lefthand corner of Fig. 2 and the said sprocket is carried bya shaft |26 which is suitably journaled in the machine. The 'sprocket' 33 and lshaft |26 are rigidly Connected so that the rotation of the said sprocket is imparted to thel shaftl |26.. The latter carries a helical gear l2] which meshes with another helical gear |28 having a shaft |29, to the of the sprocket 33 and ,in predetermined relation orsynchronism with the egg conveyor 29.4

The shaft |25 is equipped with a cam |32 which Also, rst grade eggs are further 'provided with a cam formation |49 at its outer to the kickers |2|, all except the last of which are mounted for free rocking movement on a shaft |33. The shaft |33 is continuously rocked f by means of a cam |32 through the agency of the following means: 'I'he cam |32 acts against 'an anti-friction cam follower |34 which is carried by an arm |35the latter being pivoted at its lower end, as indicated at |36, to a stationary bracket. The'upper'end of the arm |35 is connected by means of alink |31 with the lower or free end of a short arm |38 which is secured to and depends from-the rock shaft |33. A spring |39 acting between an extended end portion of the link |31 and an upstanding stationary pin |40 serves to maintain the cam follower |34 in engagement with thecam E32 so as to cause rocking movement of the shaft |33 in the direction opposed to that in which the cam |32 causes movement.

In thev drawings, a last kicker which is flxedly mounted to the shaft |33 so as to be continuameter portions |44 which are adapted to be projected from one side |4|. of the arms |4 Adjacent the side |4| of each ofv the kicker arms |4|, there is fixedly mounted on the 'shaft |33 an upwardly extending nger member |45.` The nger members rock continuously with the shaft |33 so that when va pin member |42 is moved against the. pressure of the spring |43- so as to cause its vreduced end |44 to project into the path of the finger |45, the corresponding kicker arm will be also rocked.

The pins |42 are moved endwise so as to cause the reduced end portions |44 thereof to project into the path of the fingers |45 by electrically actuated means including electro-magnetic devices such as solenoids indicated at 46. When a solenoid |46 is energized, it acts on its plunger |41 which is-pivoted at its outer end to the end of one arm of a bell crank |48 (see Figs. 9 and The other arm of each bell crank |48 is end, said cam formation acting against the adjacent `end of the pin |42. A stop pin is provided for limiting outward movement of the bell crank under the influence of the spring |43,

pin 42 against the which normally urges the said cam formation.

It will be seen that when a solenoid |46 is energized,'the bell crank |48 will be swungin such a direction that the cam |49 will be moved inwardly so as to cause itto press the p in |42 inwardly, thereby to cause the reduced endportion 44 thereof to project in the path of movement of the'nger |45. The latter position is illustrated in Fig. l0. Since the finger |45 is fast on the continuously rocked shaft |33, it will be apparent that engagement of the finger |45 with the pin |44.will 'effect rocking movement. of. the kicker arm with which the particular nger and pin are associated. A spring |2| effects return movement'of the kicker arm.

vThere are in the present disclosure ve solenoids such as |46, three of them for discharging under grade, third grade and second grade eggs respectively, and two of them for effecting discharge of large and medium sized first grade" eggs. ySolenoids for the iirst three mentioned grades are controlled by electric impulses passed by the photo cell inspecting means and the solenoids for the two rst grade" sizes .are

9,0 reason of engagement of the egg with the lowerv controlled bythe egg sizes.

For determining the grade of eggs according to size, electric switches, such as indicated at ISI,

contact element ISI", which is 'of a suilciently springy, iiexible nature as to be adapted to be raised into contact with the member ISIa mere- 1y by the egg under the switch. An electric circuit completed by contacting of the elements |5| and ISIh of the switch controls the solenoid |46 for actuating the kicker |2I which is associated with the receiving conveyor 3| for the large first grade" eggs. The other`switch ISI is of the same construction but is set somewhat lower so that the next smaller size of eggs will close that switch to cause actuation of the corresponding kicker |2I. As previously indicated,

the'last kicker designated |2|P is at all times rocked so that any eggs which pass by both of ythe switches ISI will necessarily be `discharged by said kicker in the last or small size receiving conveyor 3|.

Graded egg conveyors As lpreviously indicated, for the'six egg grades herein contemplated, there are provided relatively independent conveyors 3|.

Each conveyor 3| includes a pair f chains |53, |53 which are connected together by apertured plate members |24b (see Figs. 11 and 12). The egg receiving cups |24 aremade of soft, resilient rubber so as to constitute cushions for receiving the eggs without material danger of breaking the same. Each cup |24 is provided adjacent its front edge with an,upstanding lip |24e which serves to prevent contacting ofy eggs in adjacent cups |24. 4

'I'he conveyors 3| are independently actuated step-by-step each time an egg is delivered thereto', to advance the conveyor the necessary distance for bringing successive egg receiving cups or pockets into position for receiving an egg from the corresponding chute or guide |22. It will of course beapparent that it is important Ithat each conveyor be so positioned that after each step of movement, an egg receiving cup or pocket |24- will be in accurate alignment with the cor'- responding chute |22.A To attain such alignment, there is provided an automatic clutch and brake -arrangement for controlling movement of each conveyor.

"The 'eonveyorsl are all driven from a shaft |52 which is driven by means of the electric motor 18 through the agency of the chain drive 1S which acts on a sprocket fast on the shaft |52 (see Figs. 2 and 3).,

Asbest shown in Figsfll, 12, 14 and 1S, theA conveyor chains r|53, |53 extend around assosimilar associated sprockets |55, |55 at the other end. 'Ihe sprocket pairs |54 and v|55 are loose on the shafts |52 and |56 respectively, so that the conveyors are not vcontinuously driven, -although the shaft |52 is so driven.

With each conveyor 3| and with each pair of sprockets |54 for said conveyors, there is associated a clutch arrangement for drivingly engaging such sprockiet pairs with the driven: shaft |52.

Each sprocket |54 has a tight or pressed 4i'lt on a suitable bearing element |51 whichis journaled on the shaft |52. Between the bearing elements |51 for the respective sprockets of each pair, there is. located a cast iron core element |58 for an electro-magnetic coil |59 which is wound on said core. Thevcore element |58 is keyed to the shaft |52 in any suitable manner so as to be driven by the said shaft. The core |58 is 'provided with end plates |60, |60 one of' which may be made integralwith the core and the other of. which may be suitably secured thereto. as bestsuits manufacturing convenience.

Of course, if it is desired, the end plates |66 may both be cast integral with the core |58 and the coil |59 wound on the core between such integrally formed .end plates.

The bearings |51, |51 are each provided with flanges |6| intermediate their lengths and inwardly of said flanges there are located suitable iron members |62 which are designed to beL at,-

tracted by the magnetic force of the electro magnet consisting of`the parts |58, |59 and' |66, |60. The plates |62 are freely movable on the inner end portions of the bearing members |51 vand they are apertured at circumferentially spaced points as indicated at |63 to receive guide pins |64 which project `inwardly from the respective -sprockets |54. The guide pins |641 serve to per'mit the plates |62 to move toward and from the respective sprockets I 54, while maintaining the said guide plates in otherwise fixed relation so that respective guide plates and sprockets must rotate as a unit. It will be seen that when the electro-magnetic structure is energlzed, the plates |62, |62 will be magnetically attracted by and held in xed relation to the electro-magnetic structure which is keyed to the driven shaft |52. Accordingly, when the electro-magnet is energized, thesprockets |54, and thereby the associated conveyor chains, will be driven. For restoring the plates |52 to normal' position, i. e., disengaged from the 'magnet, a plurality of fiat spring'members designated |65 are associated with each sprocket |54 and clutch plate |62. The springs |65 normally tend 'to bow outwardly and act through `screws |66 to pull the respective clutch plates away from the magnet when the latter is not energized.

For energizing the magnetic clutch and its constantly rotating coil, one end of the coil winding is Vgro-unded in the mechanism and the other end is connected to a contact ring or commutator |61. The commutatorv |61 is insulated from the clutch mechanism by being mounted on spacer blocks |68 of insulating material, the latter be' ing suitably secured, as indicated iii Fig. 15, to, a.

housing |68 which encloses the magnetic coil..

The housing |68 is secured to the flanges or end plates |66, |6|i of the electro-'magnet preferably through the agency of brass segments |16 which may be brazed to the said end plates and to which thehousing element may be secured by means of screws, `as shownin Fig. l5. The segments |16,

being-of brass, are not transmitters of magnetic 

